they can do nothing but dance."

"O yes, they can. Some of them can smoke, and some can ride, and some of
them can even spell very well."

"You wicked, satirical person. I'm quite afraid of you!"

"And some of them call the Rhine the 'Whine,'" I said, giving an
admirable imitation of poor Hicks's drawling manner.

Fanny looked hard at me, with a peculiar expression on her face. At last
she laughed. "Oh, you wicked, wicked man," she said, "what a capital
mimic you are, and so full of cleverness! Do bring up Captain
Hicks--isn't that his name?--and trot him out for us. Bring him up, and
introduce him to mamma: do now, go!"

Mamma, in the meanwhile, had waited her time, and was just going to step
down the cabin stairs as Lady Knightsbridge ascended from them. To draw
back, to make a most profound curtsy, to exclaim, "Lady Knightsbridge! I
have had the honor of seeing your ladyship at--hum--hum--hum" (this word
I could not catch)--"House,"--all these feats were performed by Lady
Kicklebury in one instant, and acknowledged with the usual calmness by
the younger lady.

"And may I hope," continues Lady Kicklebury, "that that most beautiful
of all children--a mother may say so--that Lord Pimlico has recovered
his hooping-cough? We were so anxious about him. Our medical attendant
is Mr. Topham, and he used to come from Knightsbridge House to
Pocklington Square, often and often. I am interested about the
hooping-cough. My own dear boy had it most severely; that dear girl, my
eldest daughter, whom you see stretched on the bench--she is in a very
delicate state, and only lately married--not such a match as I could
have wished: but Mr. Milliken is of a good family, distantly related
to your ladyship's. A Milliken, in George the Third's reign, married
a Boltimore, and the Boltimores, I think, are your first-cousins. They
married this year, and Lavinia is so fond of me, that she can't part
with me, and I have come abroad just to please her. We are going to
Noirbourg. I think I heard from my son that Lord Knightsbridge was at
Noirbourg."

"I believe I have had the pleasure of seeing Sir Thomas Kicklebury
at Knightsbridge House," Lady Knightsbridge said, with something of
sadness.

"Indeed!" and Kicklebury had never told her! He laughed at her when she
talked about great people: he told her all sorts of ridiculous stories
when upon this theme. But, at any rate, the acquaintance was made: Lady
Kicklebury would not leave Lady Kn